No winners in Ukraine conflict: Clinton

FORMER US president Bill Clinton says Russia is treating its conflict with Ukraine as a zero-sum game.

IN a wide-ranging speech in Adelaide on Thursday, Mr Clinton paid tribute to the victims of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which crashed in pro-Russia territory in Ukraine's east, and reflected on time spent in the country during his presidency.

The former president said he believed Kiev had no desire for conflict and wanted to act as a bridge between Russia and Europe. "(But) in Russia, I don't think so," he said. "(Russia) insist on a zero-sum game: 'If Europe is helped by the Ukrainians, then it's gotta be bad for us'. "You see the difference in the mindset. Are we going to share the future or are we going to fight over it?" Mr Clinton was speaking at the official launch of Torrens University Australia, the newest addition to the Laureate International Universities network, of which he is honorary chancellor.
The former president said countries were more interdependent than ever before, which had positive and negative consequences. The need for trust and co-operation had never been greater, he said. Mr Clinton also teased the prospect of his wife, Hillary, running for president in 2016, as has been widely speculated. "The great thing about not being president any more is I can say whatever I want," he joked. "The sad thing is no one has to hear what I have to say unless, of course, your wife might run for office (so) don't screw it up."

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